The Pakistani government imposed a "strict ban" on all sorts of events to mark the New Year. The Asian nation will avoid revelries to mark the arrival of 2024 in an open show of solidarity towards the people of Gaza, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar declared on Thursday.
Civilian casualties are mounting in the Gaza Strip after Israel launched a military invasion in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas earlier in October. People are struggling due to lack of power, food and water amidst bombardment and ground offensive by the IDF.
It is against this backdrop that Islamabad reportedly urged its citizens to show solidarity with the Palestinians and exhibit humility at the New Year.
Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year, news agency PTI reported Anwaarul Haq Kakar as saying.
The caretaker PM reportedly added that Pakistan was engaged in talks with Jordan and Egypt to provide timely aid to Palestine and to evacuate the injured present in Gaza.
Kakar said Pakistan tried to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people on various global forums and would continue to do so in the future as well to stop the Israeli bloodshed.
Pakistan's New Year celebrations are traditionally not huge due to the influence of Islamic groups who try to stop the festivities through various methods, including the use of force.
According to the latest data, 21,507 people -- about 1 per cent of Gaza's population -- have died in the war.